Graphite feeder



Oct. 1, 1940. F. L. BALKwlLx.

GRAPHITE FEEDER Filed July 1. 1939 lNVvENTOR FLJSaZ/cwilb 'ATTORN EY plate is formed at itsv edge with an enlarged and Patented Oct. 1, 1940 e UNITED* STATES PATENT oFvFlca v GRAPHITE FEnER" Frank L. Balkwill, Stockton, Calif.l Application July 1,'.1939Qseria1No- 27s-2,450 uclaims. (131.1234196) i l This invention relates in general to a dry graphite feeder, and in particular they invention is directed to, and it is my principal object to provide, a dry graphite feeder especially adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines,- com-pressors, and the like; the 'dry graphite being fed from a source of supplyby means of the suction created in theintake manifold of the machine.

A further object of the inventionis to provide a dry graphite feeder, for the purpose described, which includes novel mechanism to control the amoun-t of graphite fed from the supply bowl or receptacle, and to assure that such feedis constant at all times. y

A fur-ther object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device andv yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed. f 1 These objects I accomplish by means of `such structure and relative arrangement of parts as. willfully appear by a perusal of the following specication and claims.

In the drawing similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device. Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the device.

Figure 3 yis a plan View of the inner face of the removable bottom disc of the follower. v Figure ,4 is a bottom plan view of the follower with the bottom disc removed.

Referring now more particularly to the char acters of reference on the drawing, the device comprises an adapter plate I arranged tol be secured between adjacent ends, of an engine manifold 2 and carburetor 3; such plate having an orifice 4 of the same diameter as and which registers with the passage 5 through said ends; of the manifold and carburetor. y This adapter tapped fitting 6; there being a small diameter bore 1 between said litting` and the `orifice 4.

An upstanding,initially open topped bowl or receptacle 8 is disposed adjacent the adapter plate p fl and supported by an integral horizontalv boss 9 which projects outward from the bottom of ther bowl, and which boss is threaded at itsouter end into tting 6. The bowl is machinedinternally,

much the same as a cylinder is machined for the lreception of a piston; the boss 9 having a passage I extending from its outer end into the bowl axially thereof. A relatively long upstanding jet,` II is disposed axially in the bowl and with its lower end secured in the bottom of said bowl` and in communication with passage I0. The jet passage I2 is relatively small and the lupper or'V tip end I3 of the jet is disposed in substantially` the same horizontal plane as the upper edge of the bowl. y

A piston or followerunit is disposed in the the head I 1.

bowl as shown in Fig. 2 and rests atop a supply of dry powdered graphite I in said bowl; such follower unit comprising the following: I

A vertical sleeve I6 engages about the jet IIv with a loose fit, the sleeve being substantially as long as the 'jet and rclosed at its upper end. An annular head I'l lis formed integrally and radially on `the lower end of the sleeve IB andthis vhead is of a smaller diameter than the bore of the bowl. The lower face of head I'I is formed with anannular, relatively shallow groove I8; al radial channel I9 connecting said groove and the loweryopen end of the sleeve. A set screw 2l is threaded through head I1 from face to face and into groove I8, and such screw is bored axially to provide an air passage 22 therethrough.

A disc 23 is secured in facing engagement with the lower face of head I1 by means of machine screws 24, which extend through holes 24a. This disc engages the walls ofthe bowl with a close running fit, and -adjacent its periphery includes an, upstanding annular sealing flange 25 which engages the outer edge of head I1 with a machine t. A washer or sealing gasket 26 engages jet I I with asnug fit and is seated in an oversize annular recess 21 in disc 23. A- series of symmetrically spaced openingsf28 are Yformed through disc 23 andin the plane of groove I8 in head Il;

`such openings being of `extremely small diameter at theirlower end portions and thence increasing to a substantial diameter atitheir upper ends.

l A cap 29 is; removably threaded on the upper endrof the bowl, and includes an-upstanding axial thirnble 30,` into which the sleeve I6 projects withv a loose t whereby the follower unit may lower asthe ,supply of graphite diminishes. A threaded boss 3| projects from the bowl immediately below the cap and the passage 32 in said boss leads into the chamber wall and thence upwardly to an internal opening above the head '.I'I.vr A length ofr metal tubing 3 3, which serves as an air intake, is connectedn at oneend with boss 3| and thence extends along and engagesthe exhaust manifold 34 in order that all air passing therethrough will be adequately dehydrated. y n

In operation, suction from the manifold passage Eldrawsv air downwardly through passage I2 injet Iland through passage I0 andbore I intov orifice 4.` 'Ihis creates suction within sleeve I6l and which in turn produces a suction through radial channel I9 and in annular groove I 8 in groove I 8, powdered graphite is drawn in relatively small quantity thr-ough openings 28into groove I8 and Ithis graphite then passes through channel I9fup within the sleevel I6 about the jet and into the jet passage I2 whenceit is carried directly into the manifold passage'f through passage I0 and bore 1.

-In order-to control the amount of graphite passing from supply I5 I providethe bored set When suction is created in suchv screw 2l which may be adjusted up or down to vary the space between the inner end of such set screw and the adjacent surface of disc 23. By varying this space, the amount of air drawn into annular groove I8 from above the head vI'l is regulated and this 'regulation effectively controls the suction at openings 28 and the amount of graphite which will be fed therethrough. The

air in the bowl above the head l1 is of course supplied through boss 3l and pipe 33; such air being dehydrated as previously explained.

The structure which is the subject of this invention makes possible the effectiveand yet controlled feeding of dry graphite into an internal combustion engine or the like aft a minimum of cost and yet with a maximum of .beneficial results. The advantages of graphite in an internal combustion engine are of course well known and include smoother operation, less wear,v better seal between moving par-ts, and increased fuel mileage.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills thel objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A graphite feeder comprising a receptacle for a supply of graphite, said receptacle being open to the atmosphere above said supply of graphite, means forming a passage leading from the receptacle above the supply of graphite to an exterior point for Vconnection with a source of suction, and other means, including a follower resting on top the supply of graphite, disposed in the receptacle and forming `a passage between said supply of graphite andthe receptacle end of the first named passage forming means.

2. A graphite -feeder comprising an-upstanding receptaclefor asupply of graphite, said receptacle being open tothe atmosphere above the supply of graphite, a jet extendingfupwardl from the bottom of the receptacle andtermi nating at its upper 'end `above the supply `of graphite, means forming a passage connected to and leading away from the lower end of the jet to an exterior point for connection with a source of suction whereby to draw through the jet from its upper end, and othermeans in the receptacle forming an enclosed passage between the upper end of the jet and the supply of graphite.

3. A device as in claim 2 in which said other means comprises a follower surrounding and slid-` able along said jet; such follower resting on top of the supply of graphite.v v

4. A graphite feeder comprising an upstanding receptacle for a supply of graphite, said re` ceptacle being open to the atmosphere above the supply of graphite, a jet extending axially and upward from the bottom of the receptacle `and terminating at its upper end above the supply of graphite, means forming a passage leading from the lower end of the jet `to an exterior point for connection with a source of suction, and a follower unit associated with said jet in relatively longitudinal slidable relation, 'and forming `an enclosed passage between the upper end of the -jet and the surface of the supply of graphite;

said unit including a closed top sleeve engaging over the jet from above and a substantially radial head on the lower end of the sleeve.

5. A graphite feeder comprising an upstanding receptacle for a supply of graphite, Asaid receptacle being open to the atmosphere above the supply of graphite, a jet extending axially and upward from the bottom of the receptacle and terminating at its upper end above the supply of graphite, means forming a passage leading from the lower end of the `jet to an exterior point for connection with a source of suction, and a follower unit associated with said jet in relatively longitudinal slidable relation, and forming an enclosed passage between the upper end of the jet and the surface of the supply of graphite;

on the lower end of the sleeve, and a'disc secured in face to face engagement with the lowerV surface of said head; said disc having a graphite feed opening therethrough, and there being a channel formed between the head and disc and establishing communication between the feed opening and the interior of said sleeve.

6. A device as in claim 5 including an adjustable air entry valve through the vhead into said channel whereby to feed air thereinto from above said head.

7. A device as in claim-5 including a plurality of feed openings through the disc, and in which said channel includes an annular groove with which said feed openings register and a radial groove between said annular groove and the interior of said sleeve. v

8. A device as in claim 5 in which the receptacle includes a cylindrical bore; the periphery of said disc engaging said bore with a close running fit. I

9. A graphite feeder comprising an upstanding receptacle for a supply of graphite, said receptacle being open to the atmosphere above the sup-l ply of graphite, a jet extending axiallyA and upward fromthe bottom of the receptacle and terminating at its upper end above the supply of graphite, means forming a passage leading from the lower end of the jet to an `exterior point for connection with a source of suction, and a follower unit associated with said jet in relativelyr longitudinal slidable relation, and forming an enclosed passage between the upper end of the jet and the surface of the supply of graphite; said unit including a closed sleeve engaging over the jet from above, Vand ahead unit on the lower end of the sleeve, and means forming a graphite feed opening between the lower surface of the head unit and the interior of said sleeve.

' 10. A device as in claim 9, in which the receptacle is initially open at the top there being a'removable cap on the receptacle,v and said cap including an axial and upstanding thimble surrounding said sleeve.

1l. In combination with an internal combustion engine including an intake manifold and an FRANK L. BALKwILL 75 l, 

